[World News] A French Obsession With Korean Baduk

His basic skills seemed strong in the early stages of the match. He was not intimidated by the attacks of the better player, and struck back confidently, in his own way. He was playing baduk, also known as the game of Go.

Christophe Malavassi’s first encounter with baduk dates back to 1992. A friend of his who wouldn’t even qualify as an 18th class baduk player taught him the game at a café in Paris.

“Back then it was just merely taking stones. At the end of the match, we didn’t know how to end, or count score,” he said. “Then suddenly someone who had been watching us playing baduk taught us how by making two squares and counting points.”

In 2001, Malavassi’s baduk career took a new tack. He played a learning match with a nine-point advantage against Korean professional baduk player Yoon Young-seon, a level four player, who was attending the annual European Amateur Baduk Tournament.

“I was completely crushed even with a nine-point advantage. I thought that the depth of baduk was just amazing.”

Afterward, he participated in the European Baduk Tournament and became acquainted with Myongji University baduk players. Eventually he took a two-month vacation and stayed at Myongji University. Then Han Sang-dae, the father of the movement to spread Korean baduk abroad, recommended a course of study in Korea for him.

After returning to Paris he quit his job at the computer service company Atos Origin and began preparing to study in Seoul. When his father found out that his son wanted to go to Korea, an unfamiliar country, to learn a even more alien game called baduk he yelled at him to stop it at once, but his father could not stop his son from going to Korea to learn baduk, his life’s ardent passion.

“I played baduk against Japanese professional players. Japanese baduk is refined and sleek but lacks vitality. In comparison, I like Korean baduk’s liveliness and aggressiveness. I particularly like Lee Se-dol, level nine, who picks fights everywhere on the board,” Malavassi said.

When asked what type of playing style he had, he answered, “A beginner’s style.” In other words, his capability is not advanced enough for him to have his own playing style yet. But although he is a beginner, he seems to understand the depth of baduk.

Finishing—

We are playing a game of baduk and the match has reached its end-game. the white stones have started to dominate the board. He counts up his points and shakes his head, but he does not give up. He wants to learn more moves. After finishing the match, and the points are counted, the white stones win 47-34. This reporter won by 13 points. “I had it good in the early stages,” Malavassi says.

When this reporter asked him how much he will improve after studying the game for two years he laughs, “That is a trap-like question.” Although it will depend on how hard he studies his goal is set at level four. As of now, this reporter considers him at level one or two.

He is asked again what he will do two years from now.

“The possibilities are open. I will decide then whether I will stay in Korea or return to France. But as of right now, excluding the time I eat and sleep, I just think about Baduk.”

Jung-Bo Suh suhchoi@donga.com